Gamer Mommy & Geek Boy

'WiiWare' is one year old

WiiWare™, the downloadable video game service for Nintendo's Wii™ home console, launched one year ago today. 

WiiWare removes barriers that make console game development expensive, and helps developers connect directly with consumers. 

WiiWare games have been created by more than 40 different development studios, from large companies to small startups - more than half were self-published by small independent studios. 

Nintendo's roster of quality WiiWare games stands as an example of what creative minds can accomplish. 

• World of Goo from 2D BOY won numerous industry awards after showing that a small development team with a big idea could make an incredible physics-based goo construction game. 

• Tetris Party from Tetris Online, Inc., introduces a new version of the classic game, complete with multiplayer options, new game modes and support for the Wii Balance Board™ (sold separately with Wii Fit™). 

• Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People from Telltale Games, the first episodic series on a console, is a hilarious five-part adventure game series featuring the popular Homestarrunner.com characters. 

• The critically acclaimed retro-styled BIT.TRIP BEAT from Aksys Games and Gaijin Games reminds longtime video game fans of their gaming roots. 

• LIT from WayForward Technologies is a stylish horror action puzzle that has players fending off creepy – and creeping – darkness. 

• The beautifully enchanting LostWinds from FRONTIER lets players use the Wii Remote™ controller to control the power of the wind. 

• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King from SQUARE ENIX brings a unique adventure from the hugely popular franchise to WiiWare. 

• Mega Man 9 from CAPCOM returns a classic franchise to its old-school, retro looks and lets players relive the glory days of gaming. 

• Dr. Mario™ Online Rx from Nintendo brings online multiplayer game play to everyone's favorite virus-busting puzzle game. 

• Bonsai Barber™ from Nintendo is the first-ever first-person grooming game that requires players to give haircuts to a colorful cast of oddball and demanding plant-based characters. 

Looking ahead, consumers can anticipate yet another year of interesting WiiWare games, including: 

• Cave Story from Nicalis, arguably the best-known indie game of all time. Cave Story takes players into a world where a race of rabbit-like creatures runs free on a serene island. 

• Icarian Kindred Spirits from Over the Top Games, where players control Nyx, an enigmatic winged girl, who must descend from heaven in search of her missing friend Icarus. 

• Super Meat Boy from Team Meat, an indie game in which players take the role of a cube of raw meat who must save his princess from the clutches of evil. 

• BIT.TRIP CORE from Aksys Games, the follow-up to the well-reviewed BIT.TRIP BEAT with a similar graphic style and rhythm component, but featuring a completely different retro game mechanic. 

• Final Fantasy IV: The After Years from SQUARE ENIX, the long-awaited sequel to Final Fantasy IV that takes place over a series of nine episodes. Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. 

For more information about this and other Wii features, visit www.Nintendo.com. 

For more information about WiiWare, visit www.WiiWare.com

Pokemon cheat sheet for parents

Don't know Pikachu from Chimchar?

Need a Pokémon crash course just to keep up with the kids?  Stay in the game with these tips.

• The main series of Pokémon video games is about exploration, adventure, and of course catching, training, and battling with Pokémon. Players can discover over 490 different Pokémon characters. Some are easy to find, but others are very rare. 

  

• Pokémon started as a video game on the original Nintendo Game Boy and since then has evolved into a global phenomenon including the Pokémon Trading Card Game, an animated television series, 11 feature films, toys and many other products.

  

• The cute yellow Pokémon with red cheeks and pointy ears is called Pikachu. Pikachu is one of the most popular Pokémon characters and is the mascot of the Pokémon franchise.

  

• Your child plays the role of a “Pokémon Trainer” in the main series of video games. A Trainer’s goal is to travel the local region of the Pokémon world, catching, training, and battling with Pokémon on a quest to become the region’s Pokémon League Champion. Along the way, they will usually encounter a group of villains who they must stop.

  

• There are hundreds of different Pokémon characters. One of the player’s goals in the main series of Pokémon games is to assist the local Pokémon Professor in gathering data for the Pokédex, an electronic encyclopedia containing information on the various Pokémon. The more Pokémon you find and catch, the more data you collect in the Pokédex.

 

• All Pokémon are classified into types and have unique abilities based on these types. For example, Pikachu is an Electric-type and is able to use special moves like Thundershock. Piplup is a Water-type who can douse its opponent with moves like BubbleBeam. There are 17 types in all that interact with each other in a “rock, scissors, paper-like” way. For example, a Water-type Pokémon has an advantage over a Fire-type Pokémon; a Fire-type has an advantage over a Grass-type, etc.

  

• A Pokémon Trainer catches wild Pokémon by battling them with one of his or her trained Pokémon. Once the wild Pokémon has been weakened, it can be caught by the Pokémon Trainer.Pokémon are caught in a Poké Ball – the basic version is a red and white ball. Pokémon usually remain in Poké Balls when not used in battle.

   

• Trading is a key element in the main Pokémon games. Players are able to connect their game to their friend’s game to exchange Pokémon characters. Players can work together to achieve the goal of completing the Pokédex.

  

• Your child can typically transfer the Pokémon he or she has caught and trained to the next new games in the main Pokémon series they so can continue with their favorite Pokémon.

  

• Pokémon never die or sustain serious injuries in battle,. When they use up their energy, they can be knocked out—as which point they return to their Poké Balls.

  

• The more times a Pokémon battles, the stronger it gets. As Pokémon get stronger, they grow or evolve into different Pokémon. For example, Pikachu can evolve into Raichu.

  
  

Pokemon Platinum launches; crowds lined up to purchase game

Pokeman's most famous character, Pikachu, greets Lauren Bergin during the launch of Pokémon Platinum Version video game this past weekend in New York.

Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Plaza is mobbed Saturday, March 21, 2009, as kids and not-so-little kids lined up to preview and purchase Pokémon Platinum Version video game for the Nintendo DS system. Gotta catch 'em all.

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Gaming is good for communication

GamerMommy & Geekboy dishes tips at Parenting magazine on opening lines of communication through gaming together:

This is a tough one -- especially for parents with a natural gift of gab, like Mary MacRae Warren of Brooklyn. She has no problem saying what she feels, but her son? No amount of pushing can get 10-year-old Azar Shrestha to open up when he doesn't want to. So Warren changed tactics.

"My dirty little secret is that I started playing video games, watching cartoons, reading comics -- things my son likes," says Warren. "Every now and then when we're talking about these things, I can slip in something else." Sneaky? Perhaps, but also loving, because you're finding common ground with your child, says Adele Faber, coauthor of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. You can also try to notice other times your quiet child seems receptive to conversation. "Boys, particularly, seem to open up a bit more when they're sitting beside you rather than face-to-face. So keep your ears open when you're alone with him on a car ride or working on a project together at the kitchen table," says Zelinger.

Just remember to let your child start the conversation -- and then to listen without judging or jumping right in to offer advice. Even if your child complains about friends or school, don't dismiss what he's saying or try to talk him out of what he's feeling. "That's the fastest way to get him to clam up again," says Faber. "Instead, nod to let him know you're actively listening, or say something neutral like 'Oh, that's what's bothering you.' Or 'Sounds as if that could be pretty upsetting.' The idea is to let him know that you really do get what he's trying to tell you."

Pokemon Platinum Launch Party This Weekend

Celebrate Pokemon's 10th with the launch party for the Nintendo DS Pokemon Platinum game from 11-4 pm Saturday, March 21, at the Nintendo Store in Rockefeller Center. The much anticipated gamensold a million units in just three days in Japan. There will be Pokemon costume characters - and giveaways - and there will be a sneak preview of the new Pokemon movie, Pokémon: Giratina and the Sky Warrior. Highlights of the day will be an interactive Pokemon playground with minigame-play with other players around the world. Those brave enough to come in a Pokemon costume will have a chance to dive into Pokemon Platinum Plunge - a 10-foot vat of colorful balls - for a chance to win a special Giratina DS Lite. Only 60 of them will be released in the entire United States. Gotta catch 'em all.

User-generated game making featured at Engaged! Expo

Mockingbird Games will demonstrate its new platform for user-generated game-making at the NY Engaged Expo next week at Javits Center.

The game-making technology behind Mattel's UB Funkey Game Factory will be demonstrated at the Expo, March 10-11. The Mockingbird platform allows users in online communities to create, change and share games.

The game developer licenses its game-making components to websites and virtual worlds, increasing relevancy for their users.

"With other forms of media - pictures, videos, music, blogs - people have shown that they want to make and share their own content, as well as consume the content of their peers," said Mockingbird games cofounder Troy Gilbet in a press statemet. "Mockingbird enables this for the medium of games," he said. "We help existing communities easily add game making as a major activity for their users, becoming a significant source of unique and engaging user-generated content."

GamerMommy & GeekBoy survive cabin fever with Wii

The sun is beaming today. After enjoying low-double-digit temps with windchills in the single digits a mere two days ago, no one knows cabin fever better than GamerMommy.

And these recessionary times call for creative thinking when it comes to family entertainment.

While GamerMommy and the GeekBoy generally dig cold weather – think sledding and snowball fights – we do not dig high prices and freezing our tushies off. Nope.

That said we like entertainment that goes the distance and spans the seasons. And we like our entertainment diverse. One reason we love the Wii is that Nintendo gets it and the software developers get it too.

Recession-friendly, all-seasons fun is what we're all about.

Here's a list of the latest we tried:

• Nintendo re-invents the old GameCube standard mass action strategy fav – new Play Control! Pimkin. Rated E for everyone, help Capt. Olimar rally his newfound alien Pimkin friends to pick up the pieces of his crashed spaceship before he succumbs to deadly poison. We love PimKin!

• Get some powder with 7,000 vertical meters and two massive mountains to explore without the high cost of lift tickets. Bandai Namco updates its sports hit, Wii Ski, with snowboarding (Wii balance board optional). Wii Ski & Snowboard is in stores now.  Rated E.

• Re-creating the insane multi-player action of the GameCube hit, Mario Power Tennis, join the stars of the Mushroom Kingdom – Mario, Luigi, Yoshi, Peach and more - for Grand Slam action using new Play Control! Rated E for Everyone. Launches March 9.

• Outdoor Challenge with activity mat and jump rope gets the couch potatoes reaching for something other than the remote and a bag of chips. We like this outdoor sports game pack developed by Namco Bandai as an alternative to the madly popular Dance Dance Revolution (some of us do indeed have two left feet), although you should prepare yourself to be embarrassed by your kids.

Big City Dreams for Hello Kitty

Adorable Kitty White has packed her bags, leaving Sanrio Town to seek her fortune in the big city.

 The Empire Interactive release for Nintendo DS is a great holiday gift idea for casual gaming young girls (and not so young too).

 Hello Kitty is moving downtown to a simple apartment.  Players help her reach her dream home, a luxurious, top-floor penthouse.

According to Rob Lightbody, Empire Interactive Product Manager,  “Hello Kitty fans of all ages will be captivated by the charming environments and friendly interaction with some of their favorite Sanrio characters in Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams."  

The mini-game based adventure follows Kitty in her  Big City adventures where she meets up with old Sanrio pals like Badtz-Maru, Pochacco and My Melody and Keroppi.  With players help, she might even make some new friends.

Gamers choose between two distinct modes – exploration and mini-game. In the exploration mode, Kitty moves around her apartment, explores the  Big City, interacting with items and inhabitants she comes across. In the mini-game mode, Kitty plays through a variety of mini-games, earning  friendship points that allow her to purchase costumes, ride the bus or train, and - of course - customize her apartment.

Rated C for cute (and E for everyone).

Budget strained? Get free games

• Feed your brain and save bucks with FitBrains.
  

This fun, scientifically-based brain fitness program will keep you sharp by exercising all five key cognitive areas of your brain through engaging activities and health tips.

•   Relieve recession stress with Spil Games 

From puzzle to MMO to card and board games, you’ll find something fun to play on one of Spil Games’ numerous targeted gaming portals. Spil Games features over 2,000 free-to-play online games.

•   Get together with friends to explore a virtual world with zOMG!
  

zOMG!, a new casual MMORPG,  encourages players to band together to investigate animated mysteries, explore beautiful worlds, defeat inanimate objects that have run amok, play mini-games and much more.

• Create with Hello Kitty and win prizes
  

Create your own video version of Hello Kitty in the City and enter to win some sweet Sanrio prizes, including a copy of the new DS game.

 

Neopets puzzle adventure a nifty holiday gift idea for all ages

Just released the last week of November, Neopets Puzzle Adventure puts the Neopets universe on your PC, DS or Wii for even more holiday fun with this popular global community, described as " the stickiest website on the web."

The Capcom and Infinite Interactive developed game is a multi-platform puzzle adventure game based on the beloved virtual community of pets for kids (and adults too) to care and raise.  The game is similar to traditional board games like Reversi or Go, adding new twists that challenge players and offer unexpected surprises and bonuses.  The object of the adventure gato flip all the chips unbtil they are your Neopet's color.

• Ten codes are generated per platform to be redeemedonline for unique items
• Customize one of 12 Neopets to be your main character
• Experience epic adventures as you journey through Neopia
• Over 150 quests per single-player game & head-to-head multi-player matches
• Collect 100 PetPets on Wii or PC (25 on DS) & earn 30 special awards

Rated E for Everyone, the game retails for $39.99 Wii, $29.99 DS and $19.99 PC.  Intuitive pick-up-and-play features appeal to casual gamers and Neopets fans alike.

A puzzling adventure game!